Lawyer: Thayer needs temporary parking lot

Tuesday

May 1, 2007 at 12:01 AMMay 1, 2007 at 1:17 AM

Thayer Academy needs to construct a temporary parking lot that would serve the student body while the school constructs its new Performing Arts Center (PAC), attorney Frank Marinelli told the planning board.

Robert Aicardi

Thayer received the historic district commission’s backing on Feb. 23, 2006 to build an $8 million to $10 million PAC with a 540-seat auditorium on school grounds after several changes were made in its original plan.

For instance, the PAC was moved further south toward Central Avenue and west away from Washington Street and attached to Frothingham Hall, preserving most of the view to Frothingham from Washington Street.

The PAC construction will displace some student parking located off of Central Avenue (the Frothingham lot), Marinelli told the Forum.

“The educational use, whether it’s Thayer or other schools, has special standing under zoning and can be located in any zone, subject to reasonable dimensional and parking regulation,” he said.

In this instance, with construction of the PAC on an over 22-acre campus, providing more parking is something Thayer wants to do as “a matter of public safety and convenience,” Marinelli explained.

“Thayer has worked with the neighborhood in various meetings over the past weeks, examining different possible locations,” he said. “It was determined that a location for temporary parking during PAC construction is on the easterly side bordering Washington Street. This is an area that has been previously used for parking during graduation ceremonies, for example.”

A public hearing before the planning board about Thayer’s application for a grading permit began on April 24 and is scheduled to continue on May 29 from 7:30 to 8 p.m.

At the outset of the discussion, Marinelli explained why Thayer was requesting a continuance.

“We are of the belief there’s a possibility that a grading permit is not required,” he said. “If there is a need for a grading permit, we will come back with a revised plan.”

Chairman Michael Ford said, “This is obviously a hot topic with the neighborhood.”

Marinelli said that the school’s primary concern is “the safety of the student body.”

When Ford urged Marinelli to “continue to reach out to the community,” Marinelli replied, “Believe me, we have.”